NCPDP Membership Testimonials
Become part of an organization that is as successful as its members. Learn what members from each of NCPDP's voting categories say about the organization and why they are part of it.
Payer/Processer
Dan Hardin
SXC Health Solutions, Inc.
How long have you been a member of NCPDP?
Since January 2000
Biggest professional accomplishment:
Creating and implementing Best Practices Protocol for Michigan Medicaid (Department of Community Health) incorporating
supplemental Medicaid rebates.
How has being an NCPDP member helped make you successful?
NCPDP standards have dramatically improved our ability to provide greater levels of service to our clients while improving
our operational efficiencies.
Neat things about NCPDP that people don't know:
Many people may not know that NCPDP has reached out to various segments of healthcare in the past year through memos of
understanding with other SDOs (HL7 and X12) and through segment focus groups such as pharmaceutical manufacturers and long
term care. We've also reached out to independent pharmacists by exhibiting at the NCPA Annual Conference. And, of
course, our members have stepped up to the plate through testifying to the NCVHS about how NCPDP standards are ready made
tools to help accomplish interoperability in the healthcare arena.
Producer/Provider
John Klimek
SuperValu - Drug Division
How long have you been a member of NCPDP?
I have been an NCPDP member since 1997.
Biggest professional accomplishment:
My biggest professional accomplishment is actually getting voted to the Board of Trustees for NCPDP by its membership. When
I first started to attend NCPDP Work Group meetings I actually felt overwhelmed and thought I would never get as involved
as I am today. The members of NCPDP make it very easy to get involved as much as you like at the Work Group meetings,
although I would recommend "taking the bull by the horns" as I did back in 1997.
How has being an NCPDP member helped make you successful?
I became involved with NCPDP about the time that NCPDP Telecom Standard version 5.1 was being developed. When version 5.1
was named the standard for billing prescription claims, there was no question that we had the right people attending NCPDP
Work Group meetings and that we would be ready. I can't imagine what we would have done if we were NOT involved. During
implementation of v5.1, NCPDP was at our side working through issues, arranging phone conferences that involved the entire
industry that was affected by these changes, as well as coordinating interim meetings to discuss issues. NCPDP helped
prepare my company to get through a very concerned time period of implementing the new standard. Even today as we look
towards implementing solutions to process the upcoming Medicare Part D claims that my stores will start to see come January
1st, 2006; NCPDP is again at our side working towards a solution.
Neat things about NCPDP that people don't know:
It's a GREAT organization to meet people that have the same day-to-day issues that you may have. Its also the only
organization that I know of that has so many diverse companies attending, and the expertise varies from being just a
pharmacist to a programmer. It is truly an organization that is able to cross all barriers of health care. As example,
most recently our Board of Trustees voted to develop a work group that includes Long Term Care Pharmacies. Also we recently
built strong alliances with HL7, which I feel will only take our services in HealthCare up a whole level.
Producer/Provider
Ross Martin
Pfizer
How long have you been a member of NCPDP?
Since the end of 2002
Biggest professional accomplishment:
Establishing Pfizer as a leader in shaping the technology standards that will transform the practice and delivery of
healthcare in the United States.
How has being an NCPDP member helped make you successful?
NCPDP has been a vital resource in helping Pfizer understand the standards environment and the impact NCPDP standards have
on our business. NCPDP has also served as a conduit for affecting change in a way that would not be possible without the
collaborative environment and cross-industry participation that are characteristic of this organization.
Neat things about NCPDP that people don't know:
Participating in NCPDP is not only professionally rewarding and a means to improving healthcare through the application of
information technology, it is also fun! The fun comes into play because the people who make up NCPDP are people you're
glad to spend time with - even if it's time spent discussing some of the more mundane aspects of HIT implementation.